Author: Chalian Meline

RUSSIAN BUSINESS PICKS UP IN ARMENIA
By M. Alkhazashvili
Translated by Diana Dundua

The Messenger, Georgia
Sept 24 2007

Russian investment in Armenia, as well as bilateral trade turnover,
is increasing every year, announced participants in the 9th session of
an Armenian-Russian intergovernmental session on economic cooperation.

Armenian Trade and Economic Development Minister Nerses Yeritsian
stated that Russian investment in Armenia should not be seen as a
negative development.

The Armenian-Russian intergovernmental session was headed by Armenian
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and acting Russian Transport Minister
Igor Levitin, reports the news agency Regnum.

The committee noted successful cooperation in the economic sector,
in particular progress in implementing the March 31, 2006 agreement
between the Armenian government and JSC Gazprom, according to which
the Russian company invested USD 111.8 million in 2006.

In 2007, Gazprom will invest some USD 190 million more in Armenia.

It was also agreed that the Razdan thermoelectric power plant will
be given to the Russian government. It will be joined with Razdan
5, the main Armenian power plant, which already belongs to Moscow
according to PanARMENIAN.net.

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN GAS COMPANY PLANNING TO EXPORT ELECTRICITY

ArmInfo, Armenia
Sept 12 2007

Yerevan, 12 September: The HayRusgazard closed-type joint-stock company
is not just a gas company, it also intends to take an active part in
the electricity business in the region, the chairman of the council
and general manager of HayRusgazard, Karen Karapetyan, told a news
conference today.

He said that Armenia is pursuing a liberal policy with regard to power
export to neighbouring countries that experience a shortage of power.

The second Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is being built in Armenia as an
alternative to the northern main gas pipeline, which creates extra
energy in the republic.

"We have acquired Hrazdan-5 [power station] and are planning to
export electricity," Karapetyan said. He added that the company has
been exporting electricity to Georgia since 2002.

We should recall that Armenia stopped exporting electricity to Georgia
last year because Georgia does not need it and has its own resources.

Moreover, the price of power export from Armenia has risen due to
the strengthening of the dram [national currency].

A1+

INDEPENDENCE IS HAPPYNESS
[08:11 pm] 21 September, 2007

`Independence is a high value which cannot be subjected to
consideration or bargain. At the same time it is a great
responsibility for the Armenians and it can be justified by everyday
diligent and efficient work’ said RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan in
connection with the 16th anniversary of the RA Independence.

Independence gives boundless opportunities to develop the country, to
secure dignified life and to maintain national identity.

Armenians are lucky to complete this inmost mission with honour and
glory, he said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Queen Elizabeth II congratulated RA President and people on Independence Day
20.09.2007 17:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II congratulated
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and the people of Armenia on the
occasion of the Armenian National Day on 21 September, the British
Embassy in Yerevan told PanARMENIAN.Net.

HM Queen’s message reads: `I have much pleasure in sending Your
Excellency my congratulations on the celebration of your National Day,
together with my best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the
Government and people of Armenia in the year ahead.’

"LOVE TRIANGLE": KOCHARYAN-DASHNAKTSUTYUN-SARGSYAN
James Hakobyan

Lragir.am
20-09-2007 12:08:28

The rise of the retirement benefits from January 1, 2008 that
the government affirmed a few weeks ago was certainly an election
pledge on behalf of Serge Sargsyan. Perhaps, however, it is wrong to
discern only PR in this move. The rise of the retirement benefit has
a clear-cut tactical target. Serge Sargsyan realized a long time ago
that the only obstacle on his way to full power is Robert Kocharyan.

Kocharyan is his only opponent. Although the president has endorsed
Serge Sargsyan and said to see him as the next president, he had
also stated unambiguously that he does not want to be the youngest
pensioner of the country. And the rise in pensions is aimed to make
Robert Kocharyan change his mind, tempt him that retiring is not a bad
idea at all. After all, the desire not to retire might not be caused
by the craving for power but the worry that the retirement benefit
in Armenia is too small to live on. Perhaps Serge Sargsyan thought
if they raise the retirement benefit up the lower limit of poverty,
the leaving president may change his decision and retire instead of
fighting for government.

Apparently, however, Robert Kocharyan who is not a believer
nevertheless follows the commandment and is not tempted. And
evidence to it is the General Meeting of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun which
eventually decided to name president. And though many believe that
Dashnaktsutyun is merely selling itself, we should, nevertheless,
keep in mind that Dashnaktsutyun say to be alternative to both the
government and the opposition, meanwhile they still support Robert
Kocharyan. Without Robert Kocharyan Dashnaktsutyun would not even try
to sell itself because for the time being this party is evaluated by
Robert Kocharyan’s factor, and without the factor of the president, in
other words, if he did not view Dashnaktsutyun as a means of solving
the problem of his future in politics, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun would
completely lose its value, and would not sell for even a song, even
the Republicans would not buy it. Therefore, some Republican activists
encouraged by Robert Kocharyan’s speaker’s statement to support Serge
Sargsyan sent threats in the direction of Dashnaktsutyun that if they
act "independently" in the presidential election as they state now,
they will have to pack their governmental things and move to the
other platform.

On the other hand, however, an interesting situation has occurred in
which the lack of a political party may be crucial. The point is that
the more importance Robert Kocharyan imparts Dashnaktsutyun with,
the more importance he gets from Dashnaktsutyun. Perhaps the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun felt the dependence of the president on it when the
Republican swallowed the Bargavach Hayastan project without chewing and
had no problems with digestion. In other words, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
has realizes that it remains the last or the last but one hope of
the president. The nomination of two candidates is evidence that
they have realized. It may mean that Dashnaktsutyun merely offers
two proposals to the wings of government – to Robert Kocharyan and
to Serge Sargsyan. Consequently, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun may make
a lucrative deal with the Republican Party. It is possible that the
threats that come from the Republican camp in Dashnaktsutyun’s address
are meant to cut it from Robert Kocharyan and push him toward separate
negotiations with the Republican Party. In more intelligible terms
for the modern political thought, the Republican Party offers the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun to "let down" Kocharyan and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in
fact displays such likelihood. It may mean that the arrangement between
the president and the Republican Party or Serge Sargsyan rather fails,
and a deal with the ARF Dashnaktsutyun is thought easier. After all,
Dashnaktsutyun are ascetic. Besides, a window of the government is
always better than several windows of the jail. In other words, the
president and the prime minister have reached no agreement on the
basic issues regarding the settlement of the problem of transfer of
power, and the issue of status remains up in the air, not Karabakh’s
but Robert Kocharyan’s.

ABOUT 70 KINDS OF BELARUSIAN MEDICINES EXPORTED TO ARMENIA

National Legal Internet Portal, Belarus
19/09/2007 03:31 PM

About 70 kinds of Belarusian medicines are exported to Armenia,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Belarus
Oleg Esayan told BelTA.

According to the ambassador, 12 medicines more are being registered
in Armenia right now. They will be supplied to that country soon. In
the near future, about 100 kinds of Belarusian medicines are to be
sold in Armenian drugstores. Annually Belarus exports medicines to
Armenia at the amount of $500 thousand.

In turn, Armenia exports about 20 kinds of medicines to Belarus at
the amount of $50 thousand.

"There are no restrictions for the Belarusian goods on the Armenian
market," Oleg Esayan noted. At the same, the supplies of Armenian
cognac products to Belarus downed that had a negative influence on
the Belarusian-Armenian trade turnover, the diplomat said.

TAB Editorial: The right decision

GateHouse News Service
Wed Sep 19, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT

Newton –

For years, a sign hung in the window of the Executive Office at City
Hall proudly broadcasting one of the priorities of Mayor David Cohen’s
administration: Newton is a place where respect for individual and
group differences is actively encouraged, and where there is "No Place
for Hate."

The city was one of the earlier communities in the state to receive
certification from the Anti-Defamation League declaring it a No Place
for Hate community. And, with the Human Rights Commission’s vote last
week and Cohen’s subsequent decision yesterday, Newton becomes one of
the first communities to sever ties with the program.

The ADL program was initially designed to encourage municipalities to
build understanding and respect for differences, and to inhibit
tensions and hate crimes. Over the years, the city has held a number
of programs as part of its No Place for Hate campaign, including
vigils, a rally protesting anti-Semitic and antigay messages, an essay
contest, lectures, movies and discussions.

In short, No Place for Hate has defined how many of us in Newton see our city.

Cohen made the right decision in opting to pull out of a program that
is practically endorsing hypocrisy. ADL National Director Abraham
Foxman continues to play with words when he says that the consequences
of the Armenian massacre of WWI were "tantamount to genocide." In too
many instances, the media is letting him get away with his subtle
distinction that allows him to sidestep directly labeling the tragedy
a genocide.

But Newton – along with Watertown and Belmont – is calling Foxman on
his ambiguity. Cohen said in his statement that he supports the Human
Rights Commission in its insistence that the national ADL take
definitive action, including endorsing a congressional resolution
appropriately labeling the genocide.

The launch of the No Place for Hate program is indicative of the
excellent work the ADL has done over the years. We are proud that
Newton has participated in the program, and we are equally proud that
our community severed ties in order to make a very important
statement.

The TAB applauds Mayor Cohen and the Newton Human Rights Commission
for making what was likely a very complicated and difficult decision.

Source: 714

LOS ANGELES: BOND BETWEEN ARMENIAN, EPISCOPAL CHURCHES INTENSIFIES
By Pat McCaughan

Episcopal-Life, NY
September 17, 2007

[Episcopal News Service] Fragrant incense mingled with the lilting
voices of Armenian and Episcopal choirs as St. John’s Episcopal
Church on September 15 hosted the 80th anniversary celebration of the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of North America,
solidifying a growing bond between the Los Angeles-area churches.

Some worshippers were moved to tears, others reached out in reverence
and blessing to touch, some to kiss the gold-threaded robes of
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Episcopal
Diocese of Los Angeles during the solemn Evensong procession Saturday
into St. John’s sanctuary. About 750 of the faithful gathered for
the anniversary celebration, characterized by unity and hope, and
followed by an outdoor reception beneath a pitched tent.

"Welcome to our house. I feel like we’ve been adopted by the Armenian
Church into the Holy See; we’ve wandered apart too long," Bruno told
the gathering during a sermon frequently interrupted by applause.

Derderian presented Bruno with a hand-carved Armenian stone depicting
the cross, the theme of the celebration which was held the day after
Holy Cross Day, "in recognition of and appreciation for Bruno’s
leadership, collaboration with our church [and his] open heart for
all," Derderian said.

"His love is for everybody," Derderian said of Bruno.

"This is the great gift he has brought to the Christian community
and all other denominations. He has always opened doors and hearts in
assisting and accommodating the Armenian church, helping us to open
churches while helping us maintain our identity, with the respect
and recognition of our rich history and traditions."

Ecumenical dialogue: bringing ‘peace into hearts of communities’ The
anniversary celebration grew out of an ecumenical dialogue between the
churches, initiated by Derderian, which has blossomed into an ongoing
relationship between leadership and laity, said the Rev. Dr. Gwynne
Guibord, ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Los Angeles.

"His Eminence has been very intentional in reaching out ecumenically
to the various communities; our first dialogue was in November,
2005 and we have been meeting on a fairly regular basis since."

Since an initial gathering of leaders the dialogue has expanded to
include youth and women’s groups.

Committees focusing on religious education, social justice, liturgy
and youth ministry have been established and plans are in the works
for future collaboration and projects, said Guibord, who has chaired
the dialogue group.

The 1,700-year-old Armenian Apostolic Church’s roots date to the fourth
century, when St. Gregory the Illuminator formally established the
church in Armenia. He was raised a Christian in Cappadocia, and was
consecrated the first bishop of Armenia by Leontius, the metropolitan
of Caesarea. According to tradition, he saw a vision of Christ who
told him where to build the church. He is called St. Gregory the
Illuminator for enlightening the nations with the light of the Gospel
through baptism. The Armenian church broke with the orthodox church
after the Council of Chalcedon.

The church’s primate is the catholicos of Yejmidzin, Armenia; Karekin
II became catholicos in 1999. Like the Episcopal Church, its priests
may marry.

The first Armenian Church in the United States was built in Worcester,
Massachusetts in 1891. The church has grown with each wave of
immigration, particularly after the 1915 Armenian genocide at the
hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and, more recently, because of
political unrest in Iran, Lebanon and Iraq and the dismantling of
the Soviet Union, Derderian said.

The western diocese was officially established November 28, 1927, and
encompasses the area west of Mississippi, including Hawaii and Alaska,
Derderian said. Headquartered in Burbank, California, it includes more
than 50 churches and is the largest outside Armenia. It is believed
there are about 300,000 Armenians in Southern California and about
one million in the United States.

He and other church leaders recently consecrated a new church in
Pasadena and there are plans to break ground for a Burbank cathedral
in October, and to build churches in Palm Desert, and possibly in
Seattle and other areas in the near future.

Genocide remembered; future charted Guibord said that the dialogue
groups have also commemorated, for the past several years, the 1915
Armenian genocide, and "other genocides that have taken place and
continue to take place."

"One of the great heartaches is that there are many people who don’t
believe the Armenian genocide ever happened and it is not possible
to heal without it.

And of course, the huge concern for any body of people that has
suffered through any violence is that it’s going to happen again,"
she said.

Ecumenical dialogue is a way to acknowledge it and to come to a deeper
understanding. "The more we understand one another, the more relational
we are with people of other faiths in our daily lives, the less likely
we will harm in any way theologically, psychologically or spiritually,
our brothers and sisters," Guibord said.

Derderian said the ecumenical dialogues offer hope, "because genocide
against Armenians, if it is not recognized, is genocide against
humanity.

"As Christian leaders, we have the moral obligation to be in good
dialogue, genuine dialogue, because we believe in the same God.

"The Word of God should not and cannot be a reason for separation,"
he added. "At times in the history of Christianity, the interpretation
has separated nations and people and communities and that is, to my
understanding, against the spirit of Christianity.

There is more reason for dialogue, if there are differences."

— The Rev. Patricia McCaughan is senior associate for parish life
at St. George’s Church in Laguna Hills and senior correspondent for
the Episcopal News Service.

FREEDOMS BASED ON CRIME MUST COME TO AN END

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
18.09.2007

Events that have occurred in Turkey over in the past week are enough
for those striving for democracy to urge for the installation of the
supremacy of the law in my country.

Last week the Supreme Court of Appeals overturned the acquittals
of Professor Ýbrahim Kabaoðlu and Professor Baskýn Oran on charges
relating to a report on minorities. This report, prepared by a human
rights advisory body affiliated with the Prime Ministry, threatens
the indivisibility of the state with its suggestion of broadening
the definition of "minority," the Supreme Court of Appeals stated in
its ruling.

Again last week, a song sung by Turkish singer Ýsmail Turut, coupled
with a video, was uploaded to YouTube.

The song and the video scenes hailed the murder suspects of Hrant
Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist killed in Ýstanbul in January
of this year.

Sabah daily portrayed the Turut event and the Supreme Court of Appeals
decision in a striking way on its front page under the headline,
"This is the clear and present danger." The article noted, "While
Baskýn Oran’s report is seen as a clear and present danger, the video
and song that praise political murders are openly aired." (Sabah,
Sept. 16, 2007)

Finally acting on media reports, Ýstanbul’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office
launched an investigation yesterday into singer Turut and the lyricist
of the song praising Dink’s murder suspects.

In the midst of government efforts to introduce a new constitution
to replace the 1982 document dictated by the military, these events
once again remind us how crucial it is to change the mindset of those
who are provoking or staying indifferent to unlawful acts. We should
establish a mechanism that has been forcing those to act in line
with the supremacy of the rule of law instead of paving the way for
legalizing unlawful acts.

The primary emphasis should be given to education, through which
every Turk should be taught what human rights means and what the grave
consequences of their violation will mean for the country’s prosperity.

Another striking event took place recently when retired noncommissioned
officers took the military to the European Court of Human Rights. The
Turkish Retired Noncommissioned Officers Association (TEMAD) finally
decided to go to the European court when it lost its 40-year-long
legal battle in Turkey over its search to participate in the running
or the Turkish Armed Forces Assistance Center (OYAK) and fully benefit
from its funds. (Umur Talu, Sabah, Sept. 17, 2007)

OYAK is a military-controlled fundraising board turned big business.

Noncommissioned officers members comprise almost 70 percent of the
strength of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the basic funds of
OYAK come from compulsory contributions from TSK members. But TEMAD
has failed in its long fight to fully benefit from the funds created
from the salaries of its members and to participate in the management
of OYAK. (Umur Talu, Sabah, Sept. 17, 2007)

TEMAD has decided to continue its struggle in Strasbourg.

Dengir Mir Mehmet Fýrat, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AK Party), said over the weekend that a draft
constitution has now emerged that reflects the will of the political
authority.

"The new constitution will be individual-centered, supportive of
freedoms, while deepening democracy, institutionalizing the legal
state concept with a civilian nature."

Fýrat’s description of the new constitution sounds good, but another
AK Party deputy, Husrev Kutlu, said during a weekend meeting in
Ankara that he did not believe a "very civilian and very democratic"
constitution would emerge." (ANKA news agency, Sept. 16, 2007)

"Because," Kutlu said, "those involved in the constitution drafting
board will have the concern of ‘What will the military think?’ while
debating each article of the document. Thus I am concerned that we
will not have the constitution that we have been longing for. The
biggest problem in Turkey is who will protect us (the Turks) from
those protectors," he said, in a reference to military trusteeship; the
Turkish military sees itself as the guarantor of the secular republic.

Indeed, most of the debate over the new constitution has centered
on issues that could have touched upon the military’s strong role in
Turkey’s political life.

Though there are some changes being made in the constitution that might
lessen the military’s intervention in the political life, as Kutlu
mentioned, courageous steps to end military trusteeship may take time.

There are some other shortcomings that should be corrected in the
draft constitution, such as gender rights, which currently portray
women as a group that needs to be protected rather than seeing women
as individuals deserving of equal rights with men.

The recent events, coupled with introducing a civilian constitution
to the country, highlight the vital nature of the changes that need
to be made in our own minds regarding respect for the rule of law.

–Boundary_(ID_7jMpqlL7iMV8/3R/FgIU8g)–

MATTHEW BRYZA: "MY MARRIAGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY MEDIATING MISSION"

Azeri Press Agency
[ 18 Sep 2007 14:01 ]

US co-chair of OSCE Minsk group Matthew Bryza said that his marriage
with Turkish woman Zeyno Baran will not influence on his mediating
mission on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

Matthew Bryza stressed that his lifestyle and way of work are quite
different form those of Zeyno’s: "My job and my family are different. I
love my family as much as I love my job."

There is such a public opinion in Armenia that Matthew Bryza’s marriage
with Zeyno Baran will interfere with his neutral position. Armenians
link it to Turkey’s backing Azerbaijan’s stance in the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.